Church Hopes To Move
To Former Gun Factory

A factory building that used to manufacture high-end revolvers, derringers, and machine guns may now house a house of God.

That’s the hope of Elder David Via of the New Birth Church of Christ Disciples of Christ. He made an appeal last Tuesday night before the Board of Zoning Appeals to allow a religious use in one of the buildings of the former Marlin Firearms Company at 235 Nicoll St.

Much of the building in question is currently occupied by Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services. The back suite of rooms is available and large enough to house a 44-seat sanctuary, clergy room, storage area, classrooms, and bathrooms.

Via is active in the Brotherhood Leadership Summit, a group of activist pastors from the Newhallville and Dixwell neighborhoods. He is also a mentor in programs at the New Haven Family Alliance.

He said his congregation has 36 members at present and is set to grow.

A City Plan Department staff advisory report to the zoners states that Via ​“asserts his hardship is that the subject space is unsuitable for light industrial use. He goes on to say the planned church is a higher and better use than light industrial uses and the corner locations makes it unique for their purpose.”

BZA Chair Pat King quizzed Via about (what else?) parking: Where would cars go, as there are only five available parking spots in the adjacent lot, the majority being already reserved?

Via replied that he has in hand a one-year lease and option for a five-year renewal at nearby 268 Nicoll.

That satisfied the zoners. Nevertheless, they tabled the matter and sent it to the City Plan Commission for review because the property’s location requires a coastal site plan review.

Following that, the matter returns to the BZA for a final vote on the religious use variance, likely in November.